[mpen-dayton4] Greater Miami Valley Area Local Events & News

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P.S. "He who dares not offend cannot be honest" - Thomas Paine
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·         FW: URGENT: Call Rep. Turner. Don't Fast Track the TPP

·          (June 13) FW: [DaytoniansAgainstWarNow] Demo

·         (June 14) FW: NCCJ Anytown - Last Minute Opening

·         (June 16) FW: Employer Round Table

·         (June 20) FW: World Refugee Day

·         (June 20, 21) FW: World Peace and Prayer Day

·         (July 10) FW: Save the Date and Nominate

·         FW: [SchooltoPrisonPipeline] Wondering Outloud about Dayton's New Program

·         FW: Reflections from Augsburg (by Catherine Crosby)

·         FW: You have a lot of power because of the part of Ohio you live in

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From: Murshed Zaheed; Deputy Political Director, CREDO Action from Working Assets
Subject: URGENT: Call Rep. Turner. Don't Fast Track the TPP

Tell Rep. Turner: No Fast Track for TPP. Make a call today!

With important votes coming up in the House as soon as tomorrow, now is the time to tell your representative, Michael Turner, that you oppose "Fast Track trade authority" and the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Call his office today and ask him to vote against Fast Track for trade deals such as the TPP.

Click below for a sample script and the number to call:

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a secret "trade" deal being negotiated behind closed doors by the governments of a dozen countries (including ours) colluding with corporate interests.

Under the TPP, more American jobs would be offshored. Internet freedom would be a joke. Developing countries would lose access to lifesaving medicines. Unsafe foods and products could pour into our country. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

The House of Representatives could vote on "Fast Track trade authority" as early as tomorrow, which would short-circuit the typical legislative process that occurs when trade deals like the TPP come up for a vote.

To stop the TPP, we need to stop Fast Track.

Call Rep. Turner's office today to ask him to vote against Fast Track for the TPP. Click here for the number to call and a sample script.

It's the job of Congress to fully vet trade deals and ensure they work for everyone, not just giant corporations. And it would be a deeply irresponsible abdication of responsibility for Congress to pass Fast Track when we know the TPP is coming down the pike, especially when we know the consequences of the TPP could be disastrous.

We are also hearing reports that Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi is working to strike a last-minute deal with Republicans that may include a rotten compromise package with hundreds of millions in cuts to Medicare funding. This is not acceptable.

That is why the overwhelming majority of House Democrats are opposed to Fast Track. And dozens of House Republicans oppose Fast Track because it takes power away from Congress and gives it to President Obama.

Now is the time to speak out against Fast Track. Even if your member of Congress has taken a public position against Fast Track for TPP, he needs to hear that his constituents are backing him up.

Call Rep. Turner's office today to ask him to vote against Fast Track for the TPP. Click here for the number to call and a sample script.

Click below for a sample script and the number to call:

 

 

From: Hilary Lerman for DAWN!
Subject: [DaytoniansAgainstWarNow] Demo

DAWN! invites you to participate in our next demonstration:
Saturday, June 13 at 1pm at the corner of Salem and Siebenthaler.

As you may know there is increasing effort to send 10,000 combat troops into Iraq because the administration knows the 'trained' Iraqi army is not capable of a real fight. This process to draw us further and further into an endless war in the Middle East continues unabated.  Besides this, there is more and more discussion for an involvement in Ukraine and in the Pacific against China.

For those who remember Vietnam. It began with several thousand 'trainers and advisers' and ended with over 500,000 troops. We can stop this before it escalates!

These our important moments for our country if we want to stop this descend towards chaos.

 

 

From: Mary Tyler; Executive Director, NCCJ of Greater Dayton
Subject: NCCJ Anytown - Last Minute Opening

Our Anytown Youth Leadership Institute begins this Sunday and we just learned that two students won't be able to attend. Although we are disappointed, we want to ensure that this amazing opportunity benefits some young person(s). Please share this information with family friends and colleagues who might have students in the 10-12 grades.

The $25.00 application fee will be waved and if necessary arrangements for payment of $150.00 can be made to accommodate the family. Note: As a result of generous financial support, this life changing experience is FREE for students who qualify for free or reduced lunch.

For additional information, a brochure is attached along with the application.  Individuals may also visit our website at www.nccjgreaterdayton.org, call our office at 937.222.6225 or contact Adriane Miller via e-mail at amiller@nccjgreaterdayton.org

 

 

From: PAUL BROWN
Subject: FW Employer Round Table 6/16/15

You are cordially invited to participate in an Employer Round Table Forum presented by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and OhioMeansJobs – Montgomery County. This is the next session in a series offered several times a year

Efforts are being made to gain insight into current workforce challenges and identify the knowledge, skills and abilities needed by job seekers to effectively meet your expectations.  Information on workforce programs and services will be presented to assist with the cost of hiring and training new employees.

To stay ahead of the curve, the roundtable topics will address personnel challenges faced by employers and ask what assistance we can offer to help you over recruitment and hiring obstacles.

Impediments to recruiting from Disabled, Veterans and Ex-Offender groups, the advantages of doing so, and advancing employee engagement and innovation will be discussed.

Our goal is to create dynamic communication between Workforce Partners, Employers, and Training Providers to ensure you are getting the support needed to develop successful pathways to employment.

Date: Tuesday, June 16th, 2015
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Location: Ohio Means Jobs-Montgomery County, 1111 S. Edwin C. Moses Blvd. Dayton, Ohio  45422 Rm. C-2 & C-3

Please RSVP no later than COB Friday, June 12th, 2015.  If you have any questions, my contact information is below.

 

 

From: Theo Majka
Subject: World Refugee Day June 20

Below copied is the flyer for the upcoming 3rd annual World Refugee Day event and celebration. World Refugee Day is an internationally recognized day that honors the strength and courage of refugees worldwide. Many cities have similar World Refugee Day events. Food will be provided.

 

 

From: Katherine Cooper, Interfaith Forum of Greater Dayton (IFGD)
Subject: IFGD would like to invite you to join the World Peace and Prayer Day.

World Peace and Prayer Day
Sacred Sites Chautauqua, Voices of the Elders

Speaking from the intelligences of all human origin, indigenous leaders, through a series of presentations will discuss living in right relationship–creating harmony on Earth, with Earth, and with each other. We will pause to share the moment with the world as Chief Arvol Looking Horse opens the World Peace and Prayer Day celebration in Oregon. A culmination of the day's topics will place leaders at an "Indigenous Table Chat" to speak on the importance of personal connection with each other and with Mother Earth. Youth activities will invite participants to connect with the strength and deep wisdom of native culture and spiritual roots.

Jim Toren and Lorry Swain (9:45am – 10:30am), Lynda Terry (10:30am – 11:15am), Diane Dubray (11:15am – 12:00pm), Lunch (12:00pm – 1:00pm), Arvol Looking Horse (1:00pm – 1:45pm via audio streaming), Irene Bedard (1:45pm – 2:30pm), Wendy Peters (2:30pm – 3:15pm), Raymond Ruka (3:15pm – 4:00)pm, "Indigenous Table Chat" (4:00pm – 5:00pm)

Date/Time: 20 June 2015 /9:30AM – 5 PM
Location: RTA Cultural Center @ 3^rd Street and Edwin Moses

*** Mending the Sacred Hoop, One World, One Prayer ***

Date/Time: 21 June 2015 / 1 – 5 PM
Location: Sunwatch, 2301 West River Road, Dayton, OH 45418-2815

• 12:00pm – 1:00pm Meet and Greet: An hour of fellowship with religious and spiritual leaders from various faiths.
• 1:00pm – 5:00pm Individuals from various faiths will offer their prayers as we all gather in circle as one.

*** Concert: "Mending the Sacred Hoop" ***
A multimedia event of celebration and song involving the World House Choir and others.

Date/Time: 21 June 2015 / 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Location: Grace United Methodist Church, 1001 Harvard Blvd, Dayton, OH 45406

Endorsed by the Interfaith Forum of Greater Dayton

 

 

From: Karla Garrett Harshaw
Subject: FW: Nomination form.

Individuals, organizations and businesses will be recognized for providing extraordinary assistance to low-income and disadvantaged people in our community by helping them to gain access to justice and secure stability in their lives. Nominees may be an attorney or other advocate who has demonstrated concern and dedication to assisting individuals in need.

Honorees will be selected for the following: Lloyd O'Hara Public Interest Law Award that recognizes attorneys; Community Advocacy Award for activism; and Community Impact Award for long-term enhancements for low-income area residents. (Allnominees must reside in the Miami Valley and may not be employed by ABLE, GDVLP and LAWO.)

The awards will be presented at the Access to Justice Awards Gala to be held Thursday, November 12 at 5:30 p.m. at the Sinclair Community College Ponitz Center. The event is presented by Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, Inc. (ABLE), Greater Dayton Volunteer Lawyers Project, Inc. (GDVLP) and Legal Aid of Western Ohio, Inc. (LAWO), organizations that provide free legal assistance to low-income individuals and families facing foreclosures, domestic violence, elder abuse, disability, public benefits and consumer issues, foreclosures, and immigration concerns.

Submit a nomination form online at www.ablelaw.org/a2j-mv-2015

If online form is not used, please include the following:

o   A cover page should include the nominee's name, address, telephone number, email address, and name of the award that is being pursued. Also, include the nominator's contact information.

o   Describe the reasons for your nomination. (Essay or list, 700 words or less.) Attachments may be included.

o   Lloyd O'Hara Award: Describe how the individual or firm has represented minority, disabled or disadvantaged clients; Describe how the nominee has made a significant or lasting benefit to clients represented; Describe the urgency, difficulty and impact of the work provided.

o   Community Advocacy Award: Describe the grassroots organizing, public education or community advocacy performed by the individual or organization you are nominating; How does this work benefit low-income, disadvantaged people or communities?

o   Community Impact Award: Describe the types of improvements this individual, organization, business or government has made in the lives of low-income people; How has this work improved the economic, educational and/or living conditions and opportunities for low-income or minority communities?

Nominations not submitted using the online form, may be submitted by email to kharshaw@ablelaw.org or mailed to:

Access to Justice Awards, 130 W. Second St., Suite 700, Dayton, OH 45402.

The deadline for nominations is Friday, July 10, 2015.

A selection committee, comprised of community representatives, will choose the honorees. If you have questions regarding the nomination process, please contact Karla Garrett Harshaw at (937) 535-4432.

 

 

From: Prof. Vernellia Randall
Subject: [SchooltoPrisonPipeline] Wondering Outloud about Dayton's New Program

Dayton public school announced a new program where they will assist new teachers with housing cost with $1000. These teachers have to live in Dayton. See link: http://wdtn.com/2015/06/10/dayton-to-offer-new-teachers-1k-stipend/

I have to wonder outloud about the effectiveness of the design of this  program. 

Is a $1000 per person really going to tip the decision making scale. If not why do it? Is it being done so the DPS and City can say they did something when they start closing schools in west dayton? $50,000 seems such an ineffectual amount.

So they are putting $50,000 into attracting teachers to live anywhere in Dayton. Does that mean we will have mostly white teaches commuting from the east side of Dayton to teach in predominantly black schools on the west side.

I applaud the idea but it should be structured to be effective lets say

• $ 2000 a year for 5 years with a bonus $5000 at the end of the five years.
• A graduated amount based on how difficult it is to get teachers to teach in a particular neighborhood
• Require teachers to live in or near the neighborhood of the school they will be serving.

Don't throw crumbs at the problem just so you can say you tried.  Do something designed to be effective?

 

 

From: Larson, David
Subject: FW: Reflections from Augsburg ((by Catherine Crosby)

I'm Different. So What?

Personal Reflections on the Impact of Discrimination and Bias

There are times when I am out and I find children hiding behind their parents. As the child would peak their head out from behind their parent, they usually use this as an opportunity to stare at me while trying to figure out if I am a boy or a girl. Some children are bolder and will just stare me down until they figure it out or they will point and say she looks like a boy. I'm not sure if they ever figure it out, but usually after offering a welcoming glance, a smile, wave and hello they come from around the parent and smile back. Sometimes we even exchange a few funny faces. Children have a way of reminding us how limiting, unaccepting and unforgiving the world can be. The world is simple to them. If you're nice to me, I'll be nice to you. Even if you're green, I may laugh because I think you look funny, but I'll be nice to you.

I recently returned from a trip to Augsburg, Germany as part of the City of Dayton's Sister Cities delegation. I've had some time to reflect on the trip and my experience. In the weeks leading up to my trip to Germany, my staff and others kept asking me if I was excited about the trip. I was not excited. To be honest, I was experiencing some anxiety. As an African American woman, I wasn't sure what to expect. In America, we have laws in place making it illegal to discriminate based on race or gender even though many still experience discrimination on a daily basis. In many countries, this right does not exist. I found myself googling to try to figure out what could potentially happen while on the trip so that I could mentally prepare.

While everyone I encountered was overwhelmingly welcoming, each time I stepped outside of my hotel room I felt a heavy weight of anxiety. I wasn't sure how I would be treated. I found myself making eye contact with everyone I interacted with to check for acceptance. I watched each person's body language closely to see if I was being treated any different from my colleagues. How are they going to treat me as a woman? How are they going to treat me as an African American? I wear my hair very short, so I also wondered if I was going to have to field questions about my health or sexuality. Fortunately, I didn't have to answer any questions and was able to eventually relax. However, I was emotionally and mentally exhausted by the end of each day. I feel this same anxiety in the States, especially in communities where I find there is less diversity. The difference is that I know my rights and I have a general idea of what to expect in certain communities.

I grew up in a low-income predominantly African American community similar to West Dayton. I don't remember seeing many fathers. A good friend of mine was killed in a drive by shooting. We mourned and moved on. My dad was incarcerated and labeled as a king pin from the time I was 12 and returned home when I was 25. My mother raised five amazing children as a single parent with a high school diploma and while on welfare. I experienced economic hardship and my experiences of the world were limited to the community where I was raised. I didn't realize there was a world outside of the east side of Cleveland until I went to college. My childhood experience has handicapped me as an adult, even though I have experienced what many might

consider success. As a mother, I can see how my limitations have limited my daughter's experiences even though they are much more diverse than mine.

Reflecting on what is happening around the country; I can't help but think about the deficit that discrimination creates in segregated communities of color, those that are devastated with extreme poverty or for people that are different for whatever reason. I sit in meetings with community leaders, administrators, elected officials, police and many others and often times I hear the limitations of our experiences in the solutions that are presented. The inability to understand the others perspective severely limits our ability to compromise and/or collaborate to solve problems. Historical tensions, a system, culture, and society that was built on a foundation of discrimination seems impossible to overhaul because of the inability to experience years of hurt and frustration that has resulted from the lack of equity and access to basic community assets that allow for all to thrive. Even when we believe that we are being open and inclusive, our decisions are limited by our inexperience and sincere efforts are thwarted by a lack of trust and understanding.

The solution to our problems is equity! How do we achieve equity for all? I believe in a competitive environment when all things are equal. In order to achieve equity, everyone must be made whole. Those who do not understand this basic concept must be willing to experience the most difficult of challenges. We must become comfortable with stepping outside of our comfort zone so that we can share the experiences of those that face being uncomfortable and inconvenienced every single day because they are different, because of their color, disability, religion, ethnicity, sexuality, gender and for so many other reasons. This will allow for compassion in our daily interactions. My anxiety in Augsburg was only soothed by a welcoming glance, a smile, wave and hello. While we did not exchange funny faces, someone took a genuine interest in me even though I looked different from everyone else.

Below are a few lessons learned from my trip in Augsburg.

1.      People of color, particularly those of African descent or with darker skin, are challenged with discrimination and bias all over the world.

2.      The world is aging and young people have a special appreciation for diversity. No matter where you go, communities that are not open to diversity will be economically stifled and will have a difficult time attracting talent. This seems to hold true except in the case of African Americans, those of African descent or those with darker skin. Welcoming diversity doesn't seem to change the fact that our success is limited to historical views regarding people of color, particularly African Americans.

3.      English is a universal language. However, spending time in an environment where your native language is not spoken and you are not familiar with the native language of that Country impacts the ability to have full enjoyment of the experience even if translation services are provided. I learned from my experience in Germany that translators may translate the words, but not the meaning or intent which significantly hinders a person's ability to appreciate what is being communicated.

4.      Access to education can be used to discriminate, especially for those in poverty. It should never be taken for granted. Respect it. Don't limit the acquisition of knowledge to what is in a textbook. Don't be afraid to explore.

Catherine Crosby is the Executive Director of the City of Dayton Human Relations Council. The Council is responsible for enforcing all of the City's antidiscrimination ordinances through civil rights enforcement, ensuring there is diversity in the City's procurement process, building the capacity of small and disadvantaged businesses, advocating for an infrastructure that supports immigrant integration, developing strategies to improve community-police relations and working to reduce gun violence. She is a native of Cleveland, Ohio.

 

 

From: Paul Hogarth, Daily Kos
Subject: You have a lot of power because of the part of Ohio you live in

We e-mailed you yesterday about stopping Fast Track—and Congress will finally be voting on it TODAY. The situation is literally changing by the hour.

We have inside information that your Congressperson is a key vote, so any last-minute constituent pressure could be decisive. Will you please call them right away, even if you have already done so? We must keep up the pressure. You can use the following script:

Rep. Michael Turner, (202) 225-6465

Congress is voting TOMORROW on Fast Track. As a constituent, I am counting on you to represent me and vote "no." It is wrong to ram through a secret corporate trade deal that will undermine basic worker protections. If you do not vote to defeat it, I will remember where you stood come re-election time.

After you have completed the phone call, please fill out the feedback form to let us know how it went.

Can't make a phone call? Please send a quick email to your member of Congress by filling out this form.

 

End of MPEN e-Newsletter